Circuits and devices related to voltage conversion

Abstract

Circuits and devices related to voltage conversion. In some embodiments, a voltage converter can include a voltage conversion circuit configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage based on a drive signal, and a feedback circuit configured to generate an error signal based on the output voltage and a reference voltage. The voltage converter can further include a feedforward circuit configured to generate a feedforward signal indicative of a change opposite to that of a change in the input voltage. The voltage converter can further include a drive control circuit configured to generate the drive signal based on the feedforward signal and the error signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A voltage converter comprising:
 a voltage conversion circuit configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage; 
 a feedback circuit configured to generate an error signal based on the output voltage and a reference voltage, the error signal utilized to adjust the output voltage; 
 a feedforward circuit including a current mirror and configured to generate a feedforward signal based on an operation of the current mirror resulting from a change in the input voltage; and 
 a drive control circuit configured to generate a drive signal for the voltage conversion circuit based at least in part on the feedforward signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The voltage converter of  claim 1  wherein the feedforward circuit further includes an input node having a voltage representative of the input voltage. 
     
     
       3. The voltage converter of  claim 2  wherein the current mirror of the feedforward circuit includes first and second transistors arranged in a current-mirror configuration and coupled to the input node, such that the change in the input voltage results in a change in a current flowing through one of first and second transistors, and therefore a corresponding change in a current flowing through the other transistor, the feedforward signal being based on the change in the current flowing through the other transistor. 
     
     
       4. The voltage converter of  claim 3  wherein each of the first and second transistors includes a source, a drain, and a gate, the gates of the first and second transistors being connected. 
     
     
       5. The voltage converter of  claim 4  wherein the feedforward circuit further includes a capacitance implemented between the input node and a node between the gates of the first and second transistors. 
     
     
       6. The voltage converter of  claim 3  wherein each of the first and second transistors is a P-type transistor. 
     
     
       7. The voltage converter of  claim 6  wherein the current mirror is configured such that a decrease in the input voltage at the input node results in an increase in the current flowing through the other transistor. 
     
     
       8. The voltage converter of  claim 3  wherein each of the first and second transistors is an N-type transistor. 
     
     
       9. The voltage converter of  claim 8  wherein the current mirror is configured such that an increase in the input voltage at the input node results in an increase in the current flowing through the other transistor. 
     
     
       10. The voltage converter of  claim 1  wherein the drive control circuit is configured such that the drive signal is also based on the error signal. 
     
     
       11. The voltage converter of  claim 10  wherein the error signal is representative of a difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage which is representative of a desired target value of the output voltage. 
     
     
       12. The voltage converter of  claim 11  wherein the feedback circuit includes a voltage divider configured to obtain a portion the output voltage. 
     
     
       13. The voltage converter of  claim 12  wherein the feedback circuit further includes an operational amplifier configured to receive the portion of the output voltage and the reference voltage to generate the error signal. 
     
     
       14. The voltage converter of  claim 1  wherein the feedforward signal includes one or more pulses having a changing tendency opposite to the change in the input voltage. 
     
     
       15. A method for operating a voltage converter, the method comprising:
 operating a voltage conversion circuit to convert an input voltage to an output voltage; 
 generating an error signal with a feedback circuit based on the output voltage and a reference voltage, the error signal allowing adjustment of the output voltage; 
 generating a feedforward signal with a feedforward circuit having a current mirror, based on an operation of the current mirror resulting from a change in the input voltage; and 
 providing a drive signal for the voltage conversion circuit based at least in part on the feedforward signal. 
 
     
     
       16. A portable electronic device comprising:
 a power management circuit configured to provide a first voltage; 
 a functional component having an electrical load and configured to utilize a second voltage; and 
 a voltage converter including a voltage conversion circuit configured to convert the first voltage to the second voltage, the voltage converter further including a feedback circuit configured to generate an error signal based on the second voltage and a reference voltage, the error signal utilized to adjust the second voltage, the voltage converter further including a feedforward circuit having a current mirror and configured to generate a feedforward signal based on an operation of the current mirror resulting from a change in the first voltage, the voltage converter further including a drive control circuit configured to generate a drive signal for the voltage conversion circuit based at least in part on the feedforward signal. 
 
     
     
       17. The portable electronic device of  claim 16  wherein the portable electronic device includes a wireless device. 
     
     
       18. The portable electronic device of  claim 17  wherein the functional component includes an amplifier or an illumination device. 
     
     
       19. The portable electronic device of  claim 18  wherein the amplifier includes a power amplifier. 
     
     
       20. The portable electronic device of  claim 18  wherein the illumination device includes a light-emitting diode.